Power-generator



M. L'TRUMBLE.

POWER GENERATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1917.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

. I u I k m H I wihwoo M. J. TRUMBLE.

POWER GENERATOR.

AIPPLICATION FILED JUNE 25, 1917.

1,337,533. Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

is Z75 June To:

MILON JAMES TRU MBLE, OF ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA.

POWER-GENERATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

Application filed June 25, 1917. Serial No. 176.799.

To all whom it 121 (1 3 concern Be it known that I, MILUN JAMns TRUM- unn, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Alhambra, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Generators, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.'

Thisin vention relates to apparatus for generating power by the heat derived from the intermittent combustion of gases.

()ne of the objects of the invention is to generate vapor continuously, by the utilization of the heat derived from the combustion of gases, and in so doing to utilize the maximum number of heat units in such gases.

Another object of the invention is to generate vapor by the heat en'oduced in the intermittent combustion of gases under pressure, and to maintain a substantially uniform pressure 11 011 the vapor throughout the operation, wliereby the vapor is delivered under working pressure at all times to the point where such vapor is utilized in the production of power.

Another object of the invention is to produce an apparatus which will act automatically to supply intermittent charges of combustible gas under high heat and'pressure, for the purpose of generating steam, and will maintain a substantially uniform pressure upon the steam by the equalizationof the pressure upon opposite sides of the piston, or other moving part of the apparatus, whereby the successive charges of combustible gas are delivered, with the steam generated thereby, to the point of utilization.

The above, and other important objects of the invention, will be better understood from the following description when the same is considered in connection with the accon1- panying drawings, illustrating certain forms of apparatus, by way of example. Insaid drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, partly sectional, of one form of apparatus embodyin the principles of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view, illustrating a modification.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a suitable base or support 2 is provided upon which the apparatus is mounted. As herein shown, a cylindrical drum or casing 4 is supported from the base 2 by brackets (5, and contained within the drum is a cylinder 8, surrounded by a water jacket 10, the cylinder and water jacket being supported within the drum, but spaced suitably from the interior of the latter so as to provide an air space, as shown. The right hand, or forward end of the drum 1 is connected by brackets 12, or other suitable means, to a cylinder 14. A piston 16 is fitted to reciprocate in the cylinder 8, and a piston rod 18 is connected therewith and extends through a stufling box 20 in the forward end of the drum 4, and also through a second stufiing box 22 in the forwardend of the cylinder 14, said rod passing through and being connected with a second piston 2+ which plays in said cylinder 14. The cylinder 14 and piston 21 constitute an air pump, and the forward head of the cylinder is provided with an intake check valve 26, which admits air upon the rearward movement of the piston, and a discharge pipe 28 connects the forward end of the cylinder 14 with an air storage tank 30, said discharge pipe having therein suitable check 'valves 32, 33, for permitting the discharge of air from the forward end of the air pump and retaining said air in the storage tank. The

cylinder 1 1 is preferably provided with a series of perforations 34, which also serve to permit the inlet of air when the piston 24 moves rearwardly, but which perforations are closed during the latter part of the stroke of the piston, whereby the air in the space between the piston and the cylinder head, is expelled through the discharge pipe 28.

A pipe 38 conducts the compressed air from tank 30 to a pipe 40, which is connected with the rear end of the cylinder 8, behind the piston 16, and is provided with a check valve 41, opening inwardly to the cylinder. Fuel, such as any suitable hydrocarbon, as distillate, gasolene, or acetylene, is admitted to the pipe 10, through a fuel inlet pipe 36, and such fuel mingles with the air under pressure from the tank 30, and forms with such air the combustible mixture from which the heat is obtained for generating the steam, as contemplated by this invention.

Two valves, 42, 44, are located in the pipes 36 and 40, respectively, and are opened and V closed at suitable timesto admit the fuel and air to the combustion chamber within the cylinder 8, and closed at suitable times to cut off the fuel and air therefrom. The valves 42 and 44 are connected by links 46 and 48, with a cross piece 49, which latter is through a strut 5O connectedwith a rod 52 extending from the strut '50 to a point over the fly wheel 51, which is mounted upon a shaft 50, carried by suitable bearings in brackets 54, mounted upon the base 2. The rod 52 may be sustained in and guided by a suitable guide-way or tube 56, having a standard 57 which is bolted to a bracket 58, extending from the forward head of the air pump cylinder 14. The extreme right hand end of the rod 52 is shown as-being provided with an angular, down-turned portion 60 having at its lower end a beveled end 62.

The outer end of the piston rod 18 is pivoted to one end of a link 64 whose opposite end carries a pin 66 which slides in a radial guide-way 68 carried by a crank arm 7 O which is rigidly secured to the shaft 50. A

spiral spring 69 is housed in the guide-way 1 68, and the-pin 66 rests'upon the upper end of this spring,..-.with capacity for movement in the guide-way against the tension of the spring at suitable times, as will be explained hereinafter. The crank arm 7 0 carries at its upper end a cam-shaped projection 73, which is arranged to .engage the inclined face 62 upon the arm.60 of the rod 52, as

the shaft 50 rotates, and to thereby cause the rod to move in the direction of rotation of the crank arm, and, throughthe links 46, 48,

of the cylinder 8., behind the piston 16.

' A bracket 74 projects from the rear end of the drum 4, and pivotally supports a link 76, whose lower end is pivotally connected with a rod 78, herein shown as extending beneath the base 2 from which said, rod is supported and guided by suitable guiding tubes 80, 82. The opposite end of the rod 78 is provided with an 'angularly extendin portion 84 whose upper end is beveled a 86, and is positioned approximately 90 from the beveled face 62. A valve 88 is seated upon the inside of the closed end of the cylinder 8, and opens inwardly. Said valve is provi ed with a stem 89, which is pivotally conn ted to the link 76, and is opened when the cam 73 engages the inclined face. 86 on the angularly extending portion '84 of the rod 78.- The rod 78 carries 'an upright bracket 89, the upper end of which is 'promoves to that position in which the pistons 16.and- 24 are at the extreme inner ends of their respective cylinders. The engagement of the cam 90 by the cam face or wiper 7 3 will effect movement of the rod78 backwardly, or from ri 'ht to left, thereby closing the valve 88. This occurs preliminary to the admission of a fresh charge into the cylinder '8, following the completion of a cycle of operations. The rod 52 is also provided with a bracket 92, shown as extending downwardly and in line with the bracket 89.

The bracket 92 carries at its lower end a cam face 94, and this face is engaged by the cam or wiper 73, just after the latter engages the cam face 90,.and so as to move the rod 52 rearwardly, or from right to left, as seen in Fig. 1, for opening the valves 42, 44, to admit a fresh charge of the combustible gas to the interior'of the cylinder8, rearwardly of the piston 16;

Upon the upper portion of the drum 4 is mounted a suitable casing 96 within which is contained a device for thoroughly mingling together the products of combustion,

or burnt gases, with a suitable amount of vapor orwater for the purpose of producing the steam. The casing 96 contains a drum 98, having at itslower end a drip pipe 991 for conducting any drippings or water which is not vaporized, back into the water jacket 10. Within the drum 98 is a pipe 99 having a horizontal portion extending outwardly through the wall of the casing 96, and a vertical portion 100. Two cones 101 and 102 surround'the vertical pipe 100, and extend downwardly with their outer edges fitting within the drum 98, and said edges are preferably provided with suitable teeth or scallops; The pipe 100 is preferably provided with perforations which are located just within the upper end portions of the.

COIIQS.

tions opening into the casing 96 and the water jacket 10 v also has small perforations opening into the space between the water The wall of .the'drum 4 has small perforajacket and the drum 4, fine jets of water through the perforations into the interior of the casing 96.- The steam and water vapor 'mingles with the hot gases" of combustion .in

the casing 96 a d the mixture passes into'the upper end of the drum 98 of the mixer in which the steam is further heated by contact with the hot vapors asit passes in a circuitous course 'about the cones 101 and 102 and finally through the-perforations in the pipe to the interior of the pipe 99.

In the operation of the apparatus fuel is admitted through the pipe 36, and air through the pipe 38 from the tank 30, when the valves 42 and 44 are open. This position of the parts is initiated at the moment that the piston 16 has reached the back end of its stroke, being then near the closed end of the cylinder 8, the wiper 73 having engaged the cam face 94 to open the valves 42, 44. A combustible charge is then admitted to the rear end ofthe cylinder, said charge being formed from fuel under pressure admitted through the pipe 36 and air under pressure admittedfrom the tank 30. The combustible charge under pressure enters the cylinder 8, and causes movement of the piston 16, the rod 18, and piston 24, the burnt gases which were in the cylinder 8 in front of the piston 16 being forced out of the cylinder, into the space surrounding the water jacket, and into the casing 96 of the mixing apparatus, by reason of the fact that the incoming charge is under greater pressure than that of the gases As shown, the same movement carries the air pump piston past the openings in cylinder 14 up to the point where compression commences. The movement of the piston 16 continues until the wiper 73 at the end of the crank arm engages the beveled face 62, which effects closure of the valves 42, 4-1 and thereafter a suitable igniting device 104 will complete a circuit through the spark plug 106, thereby igniting the combustible charge back of the piston 16. Power generated by the ignition of this charge will cause the piston 16 to continue its movement, further expelling the gases from in front of said piston, and thereafter the wiper 73 will engage the beveled face 86, and, through the connections heretofore described, will open the valve 88, permitting the burnt gases to exhaust into the space surrounding the cylinder, thereby equalizing the pressure upon both sides of the piston, permitting the piston to push the gases out of the cylinder without pressure. The outflowing gases and vapors pass into the vapor generating and mixing chamber 96, thereby exerting a pressure upon the contents of that chamber and are drawn 94, and by a rearward movement of the rod 52, again open the valves 42, 44, to admit a fresh charge ofthe combustible mixture to 'the cylinder, rearwardly of the piston, preliminary to another operation of the appa- '68, overcoming the spring 69 and locating itself suflicientlynear the center of rotation to effect this result. After the apparatus has acquired its usual momentum and the maximum stroke of the piston is attained, the crank pin will be forced, radially outward to its extreme position.

It will be observed, that the combustible charge is, when admitted to the cylinder prior to combustion, under gre'ater pressure than the gases surrounding the cylinder and displaces such gases in front of piston, the

heat generates steam by vaporizing the water which escapes from the perforations 1n the water ]ackct 10 the hot vapors and A gases flow in a commingled condition, from the mixer to the point where such gases are utilized in the generation of powcr. By this apparatus a maximum number of the heat units in the combustible gases are. utilized as the heat is immediately.applied for the generation of steam, as these gases are formed by the ignition of the combustible charge, and the pressure of the gases being equalized upon opposite sides of the piston, the apparatus applies a practically continuous pressure to the outgoing vapors and burnt gases so that the supply of the latter is kept up with regularity as long as the ap paratus is in operation.

In the modified construction illust'ated in Fig. 2, a suitable base 200 supports a cylinder 202, which is surrounded by a Water jacket wall 204, the latter having perforations 205 for the escape of water therefrom, and being supplied with water through a suitable supply pipe 270. The cylinder 202 is surrounded by a casing 206, Which is also supported from the base 200, and brackets 208, extending from the casing, support an air pump cylinder 210 thereabove. A piston 212 reci'procates in the cylinder 202, and is provided with a stem or rod 214, passing through a stuffing box 216, and through the lower head of the cylinder 210, and carrying an air pump piston 218, from which extends a rod 220, the latter passing through the upper head of the air pump cylinder 210.

The piston 212 is provided with a passageway 221, having at its upper portion an enlarged, fiared valve seat upon which seats a check valve 222, having upwardly and downwardly extended guiding stems 224. The upper guiding stem of the check valve passes through a bridge or guideway 226 in the lower portion of the piston rod 214,

which latter contains a. chamber 228, provided with an angular row of perforations 230 opening into the interior of the cylinder 202, above the piston.

A relatively small cylinder 232 depends from the platform 200, in axial alinement with the cylinder 202, and within the c linder 232 a piston 234 reciprocates. he piston 234 is providedwith an upwardly- I extending stem 236 whose upper end porstem which, extends through the piston 234 and a spring pressed check valve 242 closes the passage through the stem 236, at or about the upper face of the piston 234. A pipe 244 which conveys air from an air tank 245 which is supplied by the air pump 210, enters the lower end of the cylinder 232,

'below the piston, and in alinement with the passage through the latter which is controlled by the check valve 242. A pipe 246 establishes communication between a suitable source of hydrocarbon, or otherfuel, and the interior of the cylinder 202 below the piston 212. This fuel is combined with the air under pressure admitted through the pipe 244 and forms with said air a combustible mixture whichis subsequently ignited beneath the piston 212, to

producea working stroke thereof for the purposes hereinafter explained.

The pipe 244 is provided with a valve 248 and the pipe 246 is provided with a valve 250, said valves being connected by links 252 and 254, respectively, to a reciprocating rod 256, .which is guided for vertical moveinents alongside of the cylinders 202, 210,

in suitable guiding devices 258, 260, the upper end portion of the rod' being provided with tappets 262 and 264. The outer end portion of the rod 220 is provided with an arm 266, which is adjustably secured to the rod by a set screw 267, or other suitable means. The outer end portion of the arm 266 is provided with a perforation through which the rod 256 plays, the arm beinglocated intermediate the tappets 262, 264. The casing 206 forms about the cylinder 202 an enlarged space, which conducts the steam and burnt gases to the ultimate point where said gases and steam are utilized, through a discharge pipe 268. An annular wall 274 ably spaced therefrom, the lower end of said wall being located above the base 200 and the space between such walLand the water 'acket permitting the free pass'a e of the urnt gases an vapors from t e upper open end portion of the cylinder 204, to the spacebetween the water jacket and the easing wall 206.- The water jacket is connected by pipes 274, 276, with a sight gage 278 having the usual, valves 279, for cutting off water to the gage when desired. By the use of this gage the height of the water in the water acket may be determined, as is obvious.

I Aspark plug 280'is tapped into the wall of the cylinder 202, and a wire leading from said plug is included in an electrical circuit having any suitable form of igniter therein, which iscontrolled, at the proper time, to ignite the charge behind the piston 212, by a movement of the rod 256. The movable part ofsuch igniter is indicated by the numeral 281, and it is to be understood that the spark is produced'by the completion of the circuit, immediately after the valves 248 and 250 have been closed to shut off the admission to the cylinder of the air and fuel for producing the combustible mixture.

In principle, the operation of this device is the same as that shown in Fig. 1, but the details of the mechanism employed are slightly varied from the latter. :In the modification, with the parts in the position shown in the drawing, the valves 248 and 250 have just been opened by the engage- .ment of the arm 266 with the tappet 262,

which moved the rod 256 downward. Fuel being admitted through the pipe 246 to the cylinder, and air being admitted through the pipe 244 beneaththe piston 234, the piston 212 will be caused to rise, the valve 240 being maintained in engagement with its seat at the lower end of the passage through the piston 212, the two pistons rising as one, in their respective cylinders. During this portion of the operation, .the compressed air flows through the passage in the piston 234, past the check valve, 242 through lateral surrounds the water jacket 204, and is suit openings above said valve in the stem 2,36,

into the space above the piston 234 and thence through the opening 238 into the space below the piston 212, mingling there with the fuel to form the combustible charge.- During the advance of the piston' 212 the accumulated vapors, and which are above said piston, offer resistanceto the movement of the piston suflicient to hold the air and fuel under pressure to form a combustible mixture. During their outward passage the gases will have converted into steam a suitable quantity. of. water and the vapor emitted from the openings 205 in the water jacket, which, together with the prodnets of combustion, is dischargedthrough the pipe 268. The upward movement of the piston also effects a like movement of the air pump piston 218, thereby forcing the air ahead of the latter through the check valve 282 and the pipe 283 to the storage tank 285 connected therewith. When the pistons have moved the required distance in their cylinders, as determined by the position of the tappet 261, the arm 266 will engage the latter, raising the rod 256 and closing the valves 248, 250, to stop the admission of fuel and air to the cylinders Shortly after these valves are closed the ignition device 281 will complete the circuit through the spark plug, thus igniting thecharge below the piston 212. As soon as'the pressure due to explosion of the gases is produced, the piston 212 will be carried upward a further distance, and such pressure will act against the upper face of the piston 234. forcing said piston downward, so that the pistons 212 and 234 are separatedfat the moment of explosion.

In view of the fact that the upper face of the valve 222 is much larger in area than the lower face of the guiding stem of said valve, the back pressure. or resistance due to the gases above the piston. will be sufficient to hold the valve 222 to its seat during the movement of the ,piston under the impulse of the explosive charge until said piston has completed its upward movement due to such impulse. The piston will thereafter gravitate downwardly, and the gases of combustion then pass through the opening 221.. raising the valve 222 and passing thence through the perforations 230 into the space above the piston. in other words. passing from the space below to the space above said piston. practically equalizing the pressure on both sides of the latter. These operations take place successively and the successive impulses due to the explosions. and the passing of exhaust gases under pressure from below, to above the piston, will act to maintain a substantially uniform pressure and temperature in the outgoing steam and gases, which may be drawn off for power purposes. Steam generated by the heat of the burnt gases, together with the latter. when mingled form a mixture of sufficient temperature and pressure to be highly Valuable in reciprocating or turbine engines. and for ot er purposes. such as heating. or whenever a power producing gas is desired.

In the modification just described, the air pump piston 2 18 acts. asin the preferred form of the invention. in conjunction with the usual inlet and outlet check valves 286 and 282. and connections from the latter to the storage tank, to maintain a supply of air under the required pressure to act effectively in conjunction with the fuel under pressure,

to form a desirable mixture for the purposes contemplated by this invention.

It will be seen that in each. form of the invention as herein illustrated and described, the cylinder of the apparatus is thoroughlyscavenged of the exhaust gases, and more over that the heat in such gases is utilized to primarily vaporize the water emitted from the water jacket, and finally tq mix such vapors with the burnt gases at such a high tcmperature'as to produce a vapor of high temperature and pressure. I

While I have shown and described two forms of apparatus in which my invention is embodied. it is to be umlerstood that they are illustrative only, and the invention may be embodied in many other forms in which the details of construction, the arrangement of the parts, and the proportions of the latter, may be widely varied, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' In case the heat units are not sufficiently absorbed, by the apparatus as shown in Fig. 1. additional means may be employed in the mixing chamber or in conjunction therewith, to afford sufficient capacity to absorb the desired number of heat units. Such means will be obvious to those skilled in the art and hence illustration thereofis unnecessary.

The invention is not limited to vaporizing water, but is useful to produce vapor from any vaporizable liquid suitable for power purposes. It is obvious that any number of these apparatus might be employed for supplying gases to a common accumulator.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is g 1. The combination with'a cylinder, of a piston therein, a Water jacket surrounding thecylinder, means for admitting a combustible charge to the rear side of the piston, means for igniting sa'id charge, means for causing the gases of combustion to eq11ali7 e the, pressure on opposite sides of the piston, means for causing the gases of combustion to come into contact with water from said Water jacket to produce steam, and means for mixing said steam and gases of combustion and discharging the mixture under pressure.

2. The combination with a cylinder, of a water jacket therefor, a piston in said cylinder, means for admitting fuel and air under pressure to the rear side of said piston, means for igniting the charge thus formed, a chamber surrounding said cylinder in open communication with the forward end of said cylinder, means for discharging the gases of combustion from the rear of the piston into said chamber to equalize the pressure on opposite sides of the piston, means for bringing the burned f6 -1,ss7,ase

ases into. contact with 'vapo'r discharged from the jacket, and'means for mixing said vapor with the gases of Combustion and dischar ing the mixture.

- 3. he combination with a cylinder, of a water jacket therefor, a piston in said cylinder, a chamber surrounding said Water jacket in open communication with .the forward end of said cylinder, means for -admitting a combustible charge on one side of the piston, means for igniting said charge, means for discharging the burned gases from'the cylinder 1nto said chamber, permitting said gases to communicate their pressure to the other side of the piston, and means for discharging vapor from the water jacket and commmgling it with the prodnets of combustion.

4. lh'e combination with a cylinder, of a water acket therefor, a piston 1n sa1d cyl inder, a chamber surrounding sa1d water jacketin open communication with the forward end of'said cylinder, means for admitting a combustible charge on one side of the piston, means for igniting said charge, means for discharging theburned gases from the cylinder into said chamber permitting said gases to equalize the pressure on both sides of the piston, means for discharging vapor from the water jacket into said chamber, a mixing device connected with said chamber, and openings for discharging the vapor and gases of combustion from said chamber to said mixing device.

5. The combination with a cylinder, of a water jacket therefor, a piston in said cylinder, a chamber surrounding said water jacket in open communication with the forward end of said cylinder, means for admitting a' combustible charge on one side of the piston, means for igniting said charge, means for discharging the burned gases from the cylinder into said chamber permitting said gases to equalize the pressure on both sides of the piston, means for dischargingvapor ,from the 'water jacket into sa1d chamber, a mixing device on said'cylinder, said device comprising a plurality of cones anda supporting discharge pipe therefor having perforations beneath said cones, means for conveying the vapor and burned gases from sa1d chamber to the mixing device, and means for discharging the mixture from sa1d devlce.

6. In, combination, a cylinder, avpiston therein, a piston rod connected with said piston, a shaft, a crank arm thereon provided with a guide-Way, a spring in said guide-way, a movable pin therein, a pitman connecting said piston rod and pin, said parts being so organized that if the piston moves less than a full stroke said pin will move along the guide-way against the tension of the spring, thus diminishing the effective length of the crank arm and enabling the shaft to make a complete rotation.

7. In combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, means for supplying air and fuel to one side of the piston, valves for controlling such supply, a chamber surrounding the cylinder in open communication with the forward end of said cylinder, an exhaust valve for admitting burned gases to said chamber, a-shaft, connections between said piston and shaft, means for opening the fuel and air valves to admit the charge to one side of said piston, means to close said valve, means for lgniting the charge, means for opening the exhaust valve to permit the burned gases to exhaust into said chamber and equalize pressure on the .opposite side of the piston, means for admitting vapor to said chamber to form steam, and means for closing the exhaust valve.

8. In combination, a cylinder, a piston therein, \means for admitting air and fuel to one side of thepiston, means for igniting the char e thus formed, means for dischargmg the urned gases and causing them to equallze the pressure on opposite sides of the piston, means for utilizing the heat of said gases to forin' vapor, and means for compressing air for the combustible charge by power derived from said gases.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set the expansion of MILON MES rnUMBLE.

' my hand this 19th (gig of June A. D. 1917 

